Terminal connecter



April 1, 1925.

H. P. DAVIS TERMINAL CONNECTER Filed Oct. 19, 1921 n Y P?PQ. Z

` IIIIIIIIIIH Harry/@2741129 Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

`munity 1. DAVIS, or HEMPSTEAD, NEW vonk..V

TERMINAL NECTER.

Applies/cin filed October '19, i921.. "serial No. fso'avl.'

To lall( 'whom it may concern/l Y Be it yknown vthat I, HARRY P. Davis, a citizen' of the 'United States of America, and resident of Hempstead, VLong' island, county of Nassau, --New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Terminal Connecters, of which. the fol; lowing is a specification'.

This invention relates to 'cert-ain improvements in terminal connecters and the like; and the nature and objects of the` invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of thefollowing eX- plana-tion and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illust-rating what I at present believe to be the preferred embodiments or mechanical*expressions of my invention from among other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions within the spirit and scope thereof.

-The present invention has particular reference and is particularly applicable to connectors for securing and confining the electrical cable or conductor termina-ls of electrical systems, of internal combustion motors, to the spark plugs, inagnetos and such other electrical apparatus and devices as these systems may include, although the invention is equallj7 applicable and adapted to form the connection between the electrical conductor or cable terminals and the bindnecessary to detachably secure the electrical conductors or cable terminals thereto which connect the plugs with the other apparatus of such systems7 in order to permit the ready detachment or disconnecting of these cable terminals from the spark plugs when it is necessary to remove the same. As well known and appreciated by thosel familiar with Vinternal combustion motors, this requirement for a readily detachable terminal connection between the lelectrical conductors orcables andthe spark plugs of such motors results in continuous breakage -and inter-- ruptio-n 'of the connections because of the great vibration and strain to which they are subjected. The v'foregoing disadvz-intages are also present at other points and in' other connections where conductor or cable terminals are detachably secured to electrical apparatus and devices and subjected to any vibration, strainer like forcestending to break such'connections. A

The Vpresent invention includes as one of the main objects thereof to overcome 4and and fastened against detachment by vibra?v a tion and other forces applied thereto 'in normal use andoperation. A further Vobject of this invention'is to provide a terminalconnecter which can be quickly and readily attached to and Cle-- tached from thelelement to which it is desired to secure the same, andv which in attached position will permit movementI of the element relative to the connecter, as well as movement; of the connecter with respect to the element, so as` to avoid twists and bends in the conductor or cable and permit the connecter to move yinto; approximate alinement with the conductor or cable in attached position'.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrical conductor or cable` termina-lv connecter which can be readily attached toand detached from aspark plug,

detaching the coniiecter to and ironia bind- A ing post or ,the like, as well'as providing A4a y ment through' vibration and strains applied raf thereto, but' which' may be readily vand quickly unlockedand Vdetached by pressure manually appliedtliereto in a certain manner .and direction.

' A further object of this. inventioiris' to provide a. detachable electricalterminal connecter which is so formed and constructed as to beV applicable to and lit practically ally standard types of spark plug, magneto and various other binding posts and like elements of electrica-l apparatus, and to be interchangeable and practically universal in characterfin order to overcome the necessity of providingspecial terminal connecters for 'each type of apparatus and binding posts or the like, to which they areto be attached.

,A stillV further objectvoi the invention isv to provide a connecter vfor securing the terminals of electrical conductors, and cables to binding postsaiid'similar elements, which connecte-r is of simple but durable construction, inexpensive to manufacture andotl a Vhigh ei'ficiency in operation and use.A Y 71th the foreo'oinv' and other ob ects and advantages in' View, which will be readily' understood and appreciated by those skilled in this art, the invention consists in certain novel tea-turesin construction, and in Vforniaand particularly tion and arrangement of parts as more .fully set forth and speciiiedhereinafter. I y Referring to the accoiiipanying drawings, Figure l is a topplan view of a terminal connecter embodying features of the present invention and shown in locked,att'ached'position. i Y *ld`ig-g2 is a top plan view of a terminal connecter Aof the invention in unlocked deV tached position and prepare'dfl'or attachment Vand locking to a spark plug', binding post or similar element. Fig. Slis a view in side elevation showing a spark plug with a terminal connecterl ot theinvention locked in attachedY position in vertical section. Y

n Fig. t is a bot-tom plan view of a'terminal connecter of the invention, in vclosed locked position. f f Y Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through a terminal connection of the in;

thereon, the terminal monntingbeing shown vention -in'flocked and fatt-ached position] on asp-ark, plugpai'portion ofthe plug being shownmin dotted lines.

Fig. (iis a detail perspective view of one olifthemovable engaging and locking jaws of the invention. i

In lthe present instance, Vand purelyA rby way o ezrample,v1 have illustrated and cleelectrical apparatus anddevices and to va- V rious forms-andtypesxof binding postsand the like elements. In the 'accompanying drawings,v as an example of the Vabove application, I show a lspark plug l() ofatype well .known to those. familiar with Vthis art, and providedjwitli the binding post or head ll having the annular groove lla, therearound, and to which binding post the terminal of an electrical conductor or cable can be detachably connected in electrical contact therewith. A f

The form and embodiment of my invention for detachably connecting the terminal of an electrical]conductor or cablerto, for example a spark plug, as illust-rated in the accompanying drawings, comprises an en- Ygaging'plate or member 2O provided with extended lopening 2l therethrough andto- 'ward the Iforward end portion thereof. This o ening 21 decreases in width forwardly toward the outer *end of the plate 2O 'for a purpose appearing hereinafter, and the Vplate' 2() decreases in width forwardly with the front endy thereof rounded, in the pre'- ico terredr forni, so that the plate 20 substantially contorms in exterior form to the shape oit' the opening 21, although `it is vnot desired to limit'the plate 20 to this particular shape or form. The opposite end ot' the body portion of the member or plate 20 extends Vi'or a distance beyond the opening Bland has a portion thereofbent or otherwise extended f at anvangle to theplatethereo'l to'provide, the tab 22 for electric-ally securing the Vplate 2O to the terminal of an electrical conductor or cable. The bent endV portion or tab 22':

is provided with a circular,"aperture 22a for. a -purpose pointed 'out hereinafter. The

plate 2O is preferably.constructed or formed ofspring brass or phosphor bronze to provide a somewhat resilient but very. durable plate which will be an extremely good con'- ductor of. electricity, although if desired, .varions other materials containing the suitable properties may be employedf 4 A pair 'oxsimilar locking jaws 30a-re p-ivotally mounted'on one face ofthe plate 2O and in closed locking position extend iio across the opening 21 of the plate 20. rL "he jaws 30 are pivot-ally mounted to the vside of the plate 2() opposite that side from which the tab extends, that is the side which for purposes of clearness will be hereafter' referred to as the upper side of the plate 20. The jaws 30 are pivotally mounted on theplate by means of the. pivots or the like 31 secured through the plate 2O adjacent the inner end of the opening 21 and extend forwardly across the plate and opening 21 to and terminating in line with the forward end edge of the plate 20, as clearly illustrated in the acconipanying drawings. In closed, locked position the jaws 30 extend forwardly across and completely cover the upper side of the plate 2O with the outer side edges of the jaws in substantial alinement with the outer edge of the plate (see Figs. 1 and a) of the drawings, so that in locked position the jaws assume substantially the contour and shape of the plate 2O which they cover forwardly of the pivots 31. The inner adjacentl side edges of the jaws 30 are straight and wit-h the jaws 3() in closed position abut or Contact in a line extending' substantially along the longitudinal center of the plate 20. In order to pei'- mit free swinging movement to and from closed, locked position on the pivots 31, the jaws 30 have the pivoted ends thereof cut away and rounded at 30a, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Each pivoted locking jaw 30 is formed with a cut away portion forming a semicircular opening adjacent the forward end of the jaw and extending from the straight inner edge thereof. These semicircular openings 32 are formed in the jaws 30 opposite each other respectively, so that when the jaws are in closed locked position the semi-circular openings 32 aline to form a circular opening or aperture through the forward end portion of the abutting jaws 30. Further, the position of the openings 32 in the jaws 30, with respect to the opening 21 through the plate 20, is suoli that the circular opening formed by the closed contacting jaws is directly above and has its forward curved edge inalinement with the forward curved side of the opening 21, so that, the radius of the circle through the circumference of the opening formed through the closed jaws 30 is approximately equal to the radius of the circle of which the curved forward edge of the opening 21 is an arc and the centers of these circles are in alineinent to provide the registered opening through the plate 21 and jaws 80, with the latter in closed locking position. The rear edge portion of each opening is bent, pressed o-r otherwise inclined downwardly to form the inclined portion 52a. lith the jaws 3() in closed locked position the inclined portions 32a are rear sides, this feature of the invention re-` Y siding in providing' a downwardly inclined surface at the rear portion of the opening through the jaws. Y

In order to provide for' securely locking the jaws 30 in closed position onand across the engaging plate 20 and the `opening 214 therein, each aw 30 isformed with adownwardly extendingprojection or lug 33, "in the particular example illustrated herewith formed by depressing a portion of the jaw downwardly to extend from the under side thereof, although it is evident-that these projections or lugs 33 may be formed in va` rious other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention. The lugs or projections 33 from the underside of each jaw that with the jaws 30 in closed position the lugs extend within the opening 21 and engage against the opposite edges thereof, respec# tively, and lock the jaws 30 in closed position. Due to the resiliency of the plate 20 and the aws 30 together with a slight play at the pivots, therprojections 33 may be forced over and across the opposite sides ofv the plate 20 to permitk the jaws to swing into open unlocked position, and to be swung to closed locked position, with the projections forced across the plate 2O and snapping into the opening 21to secure the jaws into closed 1 position.

The mounting for electrically securing and rmly attaching a terminal connecter of the invention as described hereinbefore, comprises a. screw plug 40 having a central neck or projection 41 extending from one end thereof and a centra-l bore extendingA through said neck and the plug 40, with the bore enlarged at the end of the plug opposite the projection 41 to provide a substantia-lly conical opening extending through the plug and decreasing in size toward the projection 41. An electrical cable 5() of the usual or any other type, and comprising the usual heavy insulation and central conduct.- ing core ofwires 51 is inserted in the plug 10 with the insulation thereof out to conform to the conical portion of the bore through the plug and the wire conducting core 51 extending through 'the projection 41 and a distance therebeyond. A libre, hard rubber, or like insulating material sleeve 52 is fitted over the cable 5()"and linternally screw threaded at one end to receive the are so positioned ion.

Y the tab 22 is provided with the aperture 22a screw plug 40, asfshown Vin Fig. 3, of the drawings. 'l

Vith Vthe cable terminal provided with the foregoing construction and arrangement of plug 4() and sleeve V52, ythe terminal connecter of the invention is secured and attached to the cable terminal in electrical connectiontherewitli bymeans of the tab 22 ,extending from the'engaging plate 20 of the terminal connecter. As pointed out andthis aperture 22*L is fitted over the end project-inner neck 41 of the screw plug l() with the tab 22 bearing flatly against the outer end, ofthe plug a0 and sleever52 and the'engaging plate 20 extending outwardly from the cable terminal and substantially in line with the cable 50. The end of the Vwire core 51 then extends through the plug' 40 and aperture 22a in the tab 20, and is bent or spilled against theouter side of the tabV 22, being securely and rigidly se cured thereagainst by means `of solder or the'like, as shown at 51"L in Fig. 3 of the drawings.V 'Y j Y In'the foregoing manner the terminal connecteris Vsecurely and rigidly fastened to f VVVthe terminal' of an electrical conductor or cable in'proper electrical connection therewith, and extending substantially in line with andi in continuation ofthe cable.

In the operation and use of the described embodiment and construction of the invention, to attach the terminal connecter to, for example the spark plug of the drawings, the pivoted llocking jaws V30 are swung outwardly to the open'position as shown in Fig.,2 of the drawings, with lthe areaof the opening 2l through the engaging plate 20 unobstructed by the jaws 30'. Then, by

grasping the insulating sleeve 52, the en gaging plate 2O is placed over the binding post or headv ll of the spark plug l0,v the post ll passing' andextending through the enlarged rearward portion of the opening 21 of the plate 20. lith the terminal connecter'in the foregoing position, the aws 30 Aare swung inwardly toward each `other and against the post 1l of the plug which the-reby forces the connecter outwardly andV brings the post into Ithe forward, decreased portion Vof theopening 21, with the forward portion of the plate 2O wit-hin andl partially,

lined by the groove V11u. The terminal con-Y necter in att-ached `position is securely con-y nected to and'on the binding post llof the spar-lr plug l0, first by the projections of Vlugs 33 extending wit-hin and. bearing vagainst the sides of the. engaging plate open# ing2l. which prevents opening or spreading ofthe jaws to release theV binding post,-

and secondly, bythe fiact that the jaws 3 0 are confined against movement laway' from the plate to lift the projections 33 from en Y gagement withthe plate 20 to permitswinging of the-jaws 30 to open position, by the-v upper and lower faces of the groove 1l 1n` which the jaws 3() and plat-e2() are con-V fined and which press the jaws against the lower plate 20. In other words, vibrations or strains transversely of the plate`20 and jaws 30 tending to force the saine upwardlyto Fig.y 5 of the drawings. Vibration and strains tending to actlongitndinally of the necter wlllgnot detach or open the-.same

due to the forward end of the plate 20 and tothe jaws 30 held against opening' by the projections 33 and completely surroundingy and comining the binding post toY which they are attached the-reto.V It will be noted that in attached position to and in electrical conneotion with a binding post, the terminal connecter of the invention is free to rotate or swing t-lie-rearound with therpost Yas an axis, so that all twisting and'. bending of the'conducto-ror'cable to which the-'connecter mounted and secured is a-voided of the invention from a binding post to which it is att-ached and locked, the insulating sleeve Y52 vis grasped and pressure isapplied longitudinally of the connecter to force or push the engaging plate i2() and pivo-ted jaws 30 mounted thereon toward the binding post. Due to the downwardly inclined portions 32ak at the rear orinner side of the openings 32 ofv lthe jaws 30, the post 11V in the presentinstance,e bears thereagainst and they act or perform the function ofcam surfaces, so that, the post l1 `forces the j aws apart against the resistancel ofthe projections 33 which are forced onto'and across the sides of theengaging plate 20. `lVhen the aws have Vbeen thus forced clear ofthe opening 2l to a position such'as shown in Fig. 2, the engaging plate may be; detached or lifted from engagen'ientwith the binding post.

The construction and mounting of the insulating sleeve 52 protects the cable or con ductor terminal againstwea'ther conditions and particularly moisture, so that, the pres- 105 ln order to detach the terminal connecte-r ent terminal connecter is of particular advantage in use with marine and stationary motors exposed Ito the elements. Further, the provision of the insulating sleeve per mits removal of the connecter from spark plugs and like electrical apparatus and devices with the motor running or with current passing through the cablel` as the hand of the operator in removing' the connecter is protected thereby against all danger of shocks. The manner of securing the terminal of a conductor or cable into electrical contact with the terminal connecter by means of the plug l0 and the apertured tab provides a very strong rigid and safe connection against wear and breakage through vibration or blows in use.. The terminal connecter described is of particular utility at all points and with all devices subject to great and continuous vibration, such as aeronautical motors, with which it may be used to overcome the prevailing and continuously occurring breaks at points where electrical conductors and cables are detachably connected.

lt is evident that various changes, modifications, variations and substitutions might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence l do not wish to limi-t the invention to the exact disclosures hereof.

Desiring to protect my invention in the broadest manner legally possible, what I claim and desire to protect is:

l. In a terminal connecter, pivotally mounted locking jaws in closed position swung together and abut-ting and each jaw formed with a recess in an abutting edge with said jaws in closed position.-

portion thereof-,the saidrecesses oppositeV each other, respectively, and in closed position of said jaws alined to form an opening therethrough adapted to receive a binding post, and cani surfaces formed at one side of said opening, whereby a binding post confined in said opening may swing said jaws to open' position by pressure applied to force the post against said cam surfaces.

In a terminal connecter, an engaging plate having an opening therethrough, lock? ing jaws pivotally mounted on said plate, each of said jaws formed with a `recess in the abutting edge portion thereof opposite cach other respectively, and in closed position of the jaws forming an opening registering with `the opening in said plate, projections on said jaws adapted to extend in to the plate opening and engage the sides thereotl to lock said jaws in closed position, and adjacent edge portions of said jaw recesses inclined toward said engaging plate to form cam surfaces with the jaws in closed j position.

$3. ln a terminal connecter, an engaging plate having an opening therethrough to receive a binding post, locking jaws indi vidually pivoted on said plate at the inner end thereof, each of said jaws formed .with a recess in the abutting edge portion. ythereof oppositeV each other,y respectively, and in closed posit-ion of the jaws forming an opening registering `with the plate ope-ning, and the adjacent edge portions of said recesses at the pivoted ends of said jaws formed to provide :ai surface inclined toward said plate HARRY P. Davis.. 

